By Bishop Greg O’Kelly SJ,
Bishop of Port Pirie and Chairman of the Australian Catholic Bishops Commission for Catholic Education
The report of the Gonski Funding Review will soon be made public, and there has been a lot of commentary in the media about the new funding “model”. These commentaries typically focus on the benefits this model will deliver for the future schooling of our young people. Continue reading
To download the Valentine’s Day Kit 2012, click here!St Valentine Resource 2012
Heart shaped chocolates and teddy bears have become a symbol of February in the commercial world, and, for the lucky ones who have someone to share February 14th with, this is another chance to celebrate. Yet it is not an unreasonable question to ask why the Catholic Bishops’ Conference would put out a kit for St Valentine’s Day each year.
In 2010, the Bishops’ Commission for Pastoral Life through the Australian Catholic Marriage and Family Council developed a kit devoted to the celebration of St Valentine’s Day for use in parishes. Continue reading
By Pat Ransom
As an 18-year-old in between jobs and about to move out of town for university, I was in a position in which I had about a week of time I needed to fill.
Rather than spending this time eating all the food in the house and spending 12 hours a day on the computer slaying dragons, I elected to go in search of volunteer work for this short period.
As it would turn out, I ended up spending this week working at the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) and it’s been a fantastic learning opportunity, seeing the inner workings of the Catholic Church and the contributions the people there make to spreading the message of the Christ. Continue reading
Media Release
9 February, 2012
To download the Valentine’s Day Kit 2012, click here!St Valentine Resource 2012
In 2010, the Bishops’ Commission for Pastoral Life through the Australian Catholic Marriage and Family Council developed a kit devoted to the celebration of St Valentine’s Day for use in parishes.
The third edition of the St Valentine’s Day kit for 2012 is now available for download as a PDF from the Bishops’ Conference website by clicking on the button on the front page. Continue reading
By Lu Danieli and Gary Fry
Former Catholic Bishop of Armidale, Most Rev Luc Matthys, was the principal celebrant of the Episcopal Ordination and Installation of his successor, Bishop Michael Robert Kennedy. Continue reading
Media Release
8 February, 2012
In preparation for Australia’s pilgrimage to World Youth Day (WYD) in Rio de Janeiro in July 2013, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) has named Harvest Pilgrimages as their official Tour Operator for the Conference’s National Pilgrimage of Australian groups attending this universal event.
“I am happy to see Harvest Pilgrimages partner with us again for WYD Rio de Janeiro” said Bishop Christopher Prowse, Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life (BCPL) Delegate for Youth. Continue reading
The Chair of the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC), Mrs Therese Temby, today welcomed the Coalition’s announcement of its ten principles for funding school students.
“The ten principles announced by Mr Pyne constitute a charter to which I think most schools in Australia would subscribe”, said Mrs Temby. Continue reading
Media Release, 2 February, 2012
The school funding data in this week’s ROGS Report (Productivity Commission, Report on Government Services 2012, pages 4.33 and 4.34) provides a very interesting statistic.
• Government funding for government schools has increased each year in the period 2005-06 to 2009-10 by an average of 2.7%.
• Government funding for non-government schools has increased over the same period by an annual average of just 0.7%.
NCEC calls on the Commonwealth Government to reduce the operating resources gap in Catholic schools. Continue reading
Media Release, 3 February, Archdiocese of Melbourne
Photo from the Bendigo Advertiser
The Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst includes central Victoria and the Goulburn Valley and north-eastern Victoria to the Murray River in the north.
Bishop Tomlinson said he was humbled by the confidence that the Pope has shown in him and that he was delighted to accept the appointment. Bishop Tomlinson was born and raised in Mildura and is no stranger to country life. Continue reading